By Amit S
August 8 2005

West Indies lose the sixth ODI of the Indian Oil Cup in Sri Lanka by 7 runs despite a fighting innings from Runako Morton making 84 and an unbeaten 74 from Dinesh Ramdin. For India, Anil Kumble took 3/38 to ensure an Indian win after Yuvraj Singh's century. India batted first after winning the toss and made 262/4 off their 50 overs with Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif repeating their Natwest heroics after the West Indies bowlers dominated the 1st half of the Indian innings. Yuvraj Singh made 110 off 114 balls and Mohammad Kaif chipped in with a useful 83* off 103 balls before Mahendra Dhoni played a useful cameo of a 13-ball 28*.

India decided to bat 1st after winning the toss. For West Indies, their opening bowlers Butler and Darren Powell bowled well and did not give any free runs to the Indian batsmen and even troubled them. The Indian batsmen found it hard to score runs. However, their inexperience showed as the West Indies bowlers, Butler and Darren Powell conceded a few extras. Powell removed Ganguly retired hurt.

VVS Laxman, who came in next, hit a 4 to fine leg, however he didnt last long as he was out caught behind with the West Indies wicket keeper, Dinesh Ramdin taking an excellent catch. Butler then removed Sehwag as India were in some trouble at 21/2. Dravid and Yuvraj hit a few 4s as India reached 49/2 off 15 overs. For West Indies, although their opening bowlers kept it tight, their first change bowler, Tino Best, went for runs. West Indies, in the 17th over, brought on Omari Banks, the hero of their win against Sri Lanka in the 5th ODI. Omari Banks had a sensational start in the match as he removed Dravid bowled, inside-edging the ball onto the stumps.

After that, it was all India with Yuvraj and Kaif repeating their Natwest heroics as they shared a 165 run stand. The two were initially slow to start as they looked to take India out of trouble. However, once the score reached 84/3 off 25 overs, Yuvraj Singh opened up as he hit boundaries all around. Kaif, on the other end, wasn't hitting boundaries, however he took useful 1s and 2s as Indias run-rate reached 4. Yuvraj Singh was severe on the spinners Banks and Dwayne Smith.

Yuvraj, when on 88* in the 42nd over, hit a towering six over mid-wicket. However he suffered from cramps which slowed down his running between the wickets and finally went out, caught by Tino Best for a well made 110, only his third ODI century. Mahendra Dhoni, who came in next, blasted 28* off just 13 deliveries, including a last ball 6 over mid-wicket as India reached 262/4, scoring 89 runs off the last 10 overs and 54 off the last 5.

In the West Indies innings, Irfan Pathan, bowled well with aggression and did not give runs away. However, Zaheer at the other end couldn't control his line and length and the West Indies batsman, Xavier Marshall and Runako Morton, made full use of this, scoring several fours off him. Pathan then struck to remove Xavier Marshall out LBW and captain Sylvester Joseph didn't last long as he was out caught by Harbhajan Singh trying to hit a boundary.

West Indies began to collapse under the pressure with Kumble taking a good running catch at mid-on to dismiss Deonarine. For India, Nehra bowled well at the start of his spell, but towards the end, conceded runs as he went for 60 off his 9 overs despite taking 2 wickets. Kumble, after taking the catch, bowled well and gave a message to the selectors that he still has it in him to play ODIs and perhaps even last till the 2007 World Cup.

Kumble removed Omari Banks and Dwayne Smith out LBW to reduce West Indies to 98/5 in the 20th over however, Dwayne Smith took the attack to the Indian bowlers, scoring 26* off 12 balls. Ricardo Powell didn't last long as Kumble dismissed him out caught by Venugopal Rao and the Windies looked to be out of the game at 112/6 off 23 overs.

Dinesh Ramdin then joined Runako Morton, who was running short of partners in the other end. They batted well and refused to wilt under the pressure. Runako Morton eventually fell for a well-made 84.

For India, Sehwag bowled well and even finished his 10 overs removing Tino Best clean bowled. Dinesh Ramdin hit several scoring shots as he kept West Indies hopes alive, getting good support from Butler and Darren Powell. Butler was run out with Dinesh Ramdin looking to snatch a 2nd run.

Dinesh Ramdin showed no signs of pressure as he took the match into the last over with West Indies needing 12 runs. Ashish Nehra bowled an excellent last over despite being hit for runs in the previous over and gave nothing away as the West Indies batsmen could manage only 4 runs off the last over. West Indies finished on 255/7 off their 50 overs with Dinesh Ramdin contributing 74* off 83 balls, 8 runs short of a win. The West Indies, however, missed Chanderpaul at the top of the order and that could have made the difference in this match.